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Tag: Sharks

  • Premiership Rugby: Bath go top of table with comeback win over Gloucester in West Country derby

    Premiership Rugby: Bath go top of table with comeback win over Gloucester in West Country derby

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    Bath returned to winning ways with a big win over Gloucester in a rollercoaster West Country derby that featured eight tries; Bath are two points ahead of Exeter, with Gloucester still in eighth after a third loss of the season

    Last Updated: 10/11/23 10:23pm

    Bath produced a stunning second-half performance to win a pulsating West Country derby against Gloucester 45-27 at a sold-out Kingsholm.

    Trailing 20-10 at the interval, after being comfortably second best in the first half, Bath turned the game on its head with their pack taking control to score four tries in a devastating 15-minute spell as their opponents imploded.

    Ollie Lawrence scored two tries for Bath with Will Muir, Thomas du Toit and Beno Obano also touching down for the visitors. There was also a penalty try award with Finn Russell adding five conversions and a penalty.

    Santiago Carreras, Chris Harris and Matias Alemanno scored Gloucester’s tries with George Barton kicking two penalties and three conversions.

    Gloucester made an explosive start, with Jonny May heavily involved. A pre-planned move saw the former England international tear through the Bath ranks to set up a period of pressure, with the wing soon producing another strong run which ended with Carreras being hauled down metres from the try-line.

    Bath captain Ben Spencer was yellow-carded as he sought to slow down Gloucester’s possession and the hosts soon capitalised with a Barton penalty.

    The away side’s response was swift with a Russell penalty rewarding a powerful burst from Lawrence, meaning Spencer was able to return to the fray with no damage done to the scoreboard.

    After 17 minutes, Gloucester’s early dominance was rewarded when Harris powered over after Bath’s defence had been dragged from side to side as the hosts’ skilful inter-play had them chasing shadows.

    Bath beat Gloucester at a sold-out Kingsholm

    Bath beat Gloucester at a sold-out Kingsholm

    Bath then missed a golden opportunity for an immediate reply when another break from Lawrence set up a scoring chance for Miles Reid but the flanker stumbled when challenged by Carreras with the line beckoning.

    It mattered little as Lawrence took matters into his own hands by brushing off Stephen Varney’s tackle to score Bath’s opening try, with Russell’s conversion bringing the scores level. However, Gloucester were soon back in front with more intricate back play creating the space for Carreras to walk over in the corner.

    A Russell penalty attempt rebounded back off a post but Barton had no such issues as he slotted over from 30 metres out to give his side a deserved 20-10 interval lead.

    After the restart Bath were quickly out of the traps and roared back into contention when Muir collected Max Ojomoh’s long pass before bumping off two defenders to score. Russell converted before Bath took the lead for the first time when Du Toit finished off a succession of forward drives.

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    In the second half, it was one-way traffic as Gloucester could not get out of their 22 and it came as no surprise when Obano crashed over for Bath’s bonus-point try.

    Gloucester conceded a fourth score in the space of 15 minutes, a penalty try being awarded with their flanker Jack Clement sin-binned for collapsing.

    Gloucester showed some spirit with a try from Alemanno before Clement returned from the sin-bin in time to see Lawrence seal Bath’s victory with his second try of the night.

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  • England vs Canada: Changes made to women’s rugby will ‘help the game grow’ says Louis Deacon

    England vs Canada: Changes made to women’s rugby will ‘help the game grow’ says Louis Deacon

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    England got their WXV campaign off to a winning start beating Australia 42-7 last Friday; They come up against Canada on Friday in the second of their three games in New Zealand

    Last Updated: 25/10/23 2:16pm

    England Women’s will take on Canada on Friday after winning both games against them during pre-season

    England Women’s interim head coach Louis Deacon has praised the changes made by the World Rugby Council saying it will help the women’s game grow.

    The transformational reforms for the women’s game mean there will be no overlap between international and club fixtures for the first time from 2026.

    It will allow for clearly defined global and regional player release periods in the women’s game which will promote opportunity and growth ahead of an expanded 16-team Rugby World Cup in 2025.

    “This is massively exciting for the women’s game that these things have been put in place, really positive, it shows that it is continuing to grow and it will mean the players can solely focus on international periods or domestic periods,” said Deacon.

    Red Roses captain Marlie Packer echoed this sentiment saying it will allow players will benefit from a schedule which should see less fixture congestion.

    “The players will get a proper rest period so we can come into our pre-season ready to do,” Packer said.

    “Calendars won’t be overlapping with each other which means seasons can be prolonged or extended or we have a quick turn around of tournaments.

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    “It’s about the welfare of the players and I think it’s a really good thing that will happen to the game.”

    The Red Roses will continue their inaugural WXV campaign this Friday when they take on Canada after kicking off the tournament with an emphatic 42-7 victory over Australia last Friday.

    England have made nine changes to their starting line-up for their second match of the WXV 1 tournament against Canada on Friday.

    Canada also began their WXV campaign with an impressive 42-22 win over Wales, but lost to England in their two pre-season matches, albeit the scoreline becoming tighter each time.

    “Canada are a very athletic side, and their set-piece is very good. For me the standout player is Sophie de Goede, she can make anything happen. The way she plays the game and sees the game is exceptional,” said Packer.

    Canada captain De Goede scored the opening try within four minutes and added six conversions in her side’s opening game against Wales.

    England got their WXV tournament campaign off to a winning start with a 42-7 victory over Australia

    England got their WXV tournament campaign off to a winning start with a 42-7 victory over Australia

    During England’s game against Australia, Packer scored two tries and keeps her place in the side while full-back Ellie Kildunne – who has three tries in her last two outings against the Canadians – and wing Claudia MacDonald return to the back three, alongside Abby Dow.

    Helena Rowland switches to outside centre where she will join Amber Reed in midfield, with scrum-half Natasha Hunt named as Holly Aitchison’s half-back partner.

    “When you have got a squad of 30 players, you need to have players that are adaptable. In our first game it was about giving people opportunities and that was one of the combinations we looked at,” said Deacon.

    “Players need to be versatile when you have 30 available, so that’s why we’ve moved Helena around.”

    A fresh front row sees Mackenzie Carson, Lark Atkin-Davies and Sarah Bern start, while Cath O’Donnell is back in the second row beside Zoe Aldcroft.

    Morwenna Talling is selected at blindside flanker as captain Marlie Packer and Alex Matthews continue at openside flanker and No 8 respectively.

    “Every player will be ready for the game, just because we have played Canada twice won’t make us any less aware of what we’re going into and we have to put a good performance in,” said Packer.

    “We’ve been training with each other and there’s been a lot of time to discuss things but whatever 15-players go out there, I know they will do the job.

    “We’re striving to be the best version of ourselves and it doesn’t matter about who has started and who hasn’t.”

    Red Roses line-up: 15. Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins), 14. Abby Dow (Trailfinders Women), 13. Helena Rowland – vice-captain (Loughborough Lightning), 12. Amber Reed (Bristol Bears), 11. Claudia MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs), 10. Holly Aitchison (Bristol Bears), 9. Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury)

    1. Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury), 2. Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears), 3. Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears), 4. Zoe Aldcroft – vice-captain (Gloucester-Hartpury), 5. Cath O’Donnell (Loughborough Lightning), 6. Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks), 7. Marlie Packer – captain (Saracens), 8. Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury)

    Replacements: 16. Connie Powell (Harlequins), 17. Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears), 18. Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury), 19. Rosie Galligan (Saracens), 20. Maisy Allen (Exeter Chiefs), 21. Ella Wyrwas (Saracens), 22. Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury), 23. Jess Breach (Saracens)

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  • Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) risk among rugby players increases with length of career

    Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) risk among rugby players increases with length of career

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    In a study of the brains of 31 former players, CTE was present in 21 of the brains (68 per cent) donated to research institutes in the USA, UK & Australia; Professor Willie Stewart: “Our data shows risk is linked to length of rugby career, with every extra year of play increasing risk”

    Last Updated: 23/10/23 9:16pm

    A player’s risk of developing an incurable brain disease uniquely associated with repeated head impacts is relative to the length of their career

    A player’s risk of developing an incurable brain disease uniquely associated with repeated head impacts is relative to the length of their career, a new study indicates.

    Each additional year of playing was found to increase the risk of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) by 14 per cent, in a study of the brains of 31 former players whose average career length was 18 years.

    CTE can only be diagnosed postmortem, and to date the only recognised risk factor for CTE is traumatic brain injury and repeated head impact exposure.

    The study, published in Acta Neuropathologica in the week of the Rugby World Cup final, found CTE present in 21 of the 31 brains (68 per cent) donated to research institutes in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.

    Cases with CTE averaged a career length of 21.5 years, while in those without CTE the average was 12.1 years.

    The study’s lead author Professor Willie Stewart said: “In this study, we have combined the experience and expertise of three leading international brain banks to look at CTE in former rugby players.

    “These results provide new evidence regarding the association between rugby union participation and CTE. Specifically, our data shows risk is linked to length of rugby career, with every extra year of play increasing risk.

    “Based on this it is imperative that the sport’s regulators reduce exposure to repeated head impacts in match play and in training to reduce risk of this otherwise preventable contact sport related neurodegenerative disease.”

    Twenty-three of the players played at amateur level only, while eight also played at the elite level. The study found no correlation between the level the individual had played at and an increased risk of CTE, nor between whether they played as a forward or a back.

    World Rugby is exploring ways to mitigate the risk of concussion and improve how diagnosed or suspected concussions are managed.

    The governing body’s executive board has recommended that unions participate in an opt-in global trial of lowering the tackle height in the community game to below the sternum – also known as a “belly tackle”.

    World Rugby also promotes a ‘recognise and remove’ approach to dealing with concussion in the amateur game, while it has detailed return-to-play protocols at that level and in the elite game.

    A group of former professional and amateur players diagnosed with early-onset dementia are involved in legal action against World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union and the Welsh Rugby Union.

    The players claim the governing bodies were negligent in that they failed to take reasonable action to protect them from permanent injury caused by repetitive concussive and sub-concussive blows.

    A World Rugby spokesperson said: “World Rugby is aware of the findings from the University of Glasgow study and we are committed to always being informed by the latest science.

    “Our Independent Concussion Working Group recently met with Boston University representatives, including Professor Ann McKee, alongside other world leading brain health experts, to continue our dialogue on how we can make the game safer for the whole rugby family.

    “What all the experts told our Independent Concussion Working Group was, that we should continue to reduce the number of head impacts, and that is exactly what we will do.

    “World Rugby will never stand still when it comes to protecting players’ brain health which is why community players around the globe are taking part in trials of a lower tackle height this season.

    “It is also why we have rolled out the use of world leading smart mouthguard technology in WXV, our new elite women’s competition, and from 2024 all elite competitions using the Head Injury Assessment will use smart mouthguards, in addition to the current independent doctors and in-game video footage to ensure that players are receiving the best possible care.”

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  • Wasps: Former Premiership side announce plan to move into new stadium in Kent

    Wasps: Former Premiership side announce plan to move into new stadium in Kent

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    Wasps were considering building a multi-use stadium, training facilities and a hotel on the outskirts of Swanley, with a public consultation planned next month; Wasps have been without a permanent home since leaving Coventry when they were suspended from all competitions last year

    Last Updated: 23/10/23 5:11pm

    Wasps have revealed a plan to try and move to a permanent location in Kent

    Former Premiership giants Wasps have announced their intention to explore the
    possibility of establishing a permanent home in Kent.

    The club, who were removed from the Premiership last year after falling into administration, say they are “actively engaged” with Sevenoaks District Council to identify a suitable location.

    A prospective move to Kent would mark another geographical shift for the club, who played most of their 156-year history in London, before moving to High Wycombe in 2002 and Coventry in 2014.

    Wasps, who are two-time European champions and six-time Premiership winners, had £95m worth of debts when the club went into administration and said this decision “signifies a new chapter in the club’s journey, reaffirming its commitment to professional rugby”.

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    A statement read: “Having faced significant challenges with regulation and funding, the club has persisted with its determination to revive Wasps at the highest possible level.”

    The club has also agreed an option of utilising Worcester Warriors’ Sixways ground for both training and playing purposes, while Wasps say they will be actively exploring temporary facilities to underpin its operations in Kent.

    A Sevenoaks District Council spokesman said Wasps were considering building a multi-use stadium, training facilities and a hotel on the outskirts of Swanley, with a public consultation planned next month.

    Wasps played their home games in Coventry before dropping out of the Premiership

    Wasps played their home games in Coventry before dropping out of the Premiership

    “As a top-tier club, with an international profile, we firmly believe this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” the spokesman added.

    “Wasps would bring unparalleled economic, sports development, health, education, and skills benefits to the district and we are keen to explore how that could be achieved.”

    It has yet to be confirmed what level of the league pyramid Wasps will be able to return to.

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  • Shark bite bursts dinghy, leaving five stranded at sea

    Shark bite bursts dinghy, leaving five stranded at sea

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    Five people have been rescued after a shark bit their inflatable boat, leaving them stranded at sea.

    The creature had been hooked by the fishermen, who had been in Alexander Bay, off the Esperance coast near Perth, Western Australia, when the incident occurred, ABC Australia reported.

    The shark took a bite out of the boat, causing it to deflate and become submerged in water. This damaged the engine and fuel lines—stranding the men at sea. Authorities realized the five fishermen were missing at around 8 p.m. local time on Sunday, when people noticed they had not returned.

    The crew members wave for help as rescue teams approach the deflated vessel. A shark bit the men’s dinghy, leaving the five stranded.
    Australian Maritime Safety Authority

    “We were fishing and we caught a shark, and when we brought it to the front of the boat, it popped the front pontoon,” skipper Jacob Ovesby told ABC. “There was a bit of water onboard because we popped the front. It’s seen better days. Good for people on the beach to make the right call and call for help. That’s probably the most important thing.”

    Officials from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and DFES Marine Rescue Esperance finally found the men at approximately 3:36 a.m. AEDT.

    A rescue aircraft found the boat semi-submerged with all 5 occupants onboard “waving for help,” the maritime safety authority said in a statement. “They maintained overhead, ensuring the safety of those stranded until the volunteer vessel arrival,” it read.

    When the five men were picked up, they slept for the entire four-hour journey home, ABC reported. They were assessed by paramedics who determined they were uninjured.

    Crew members rescued
    The deflated dinghy is pulled along by the rescue boat. The five men who were rescued slept for the whole four-hour journey back to safety.
    Australian Maritime Safety Authority

    It is not clear what shark species is responsible for deflating the boat, but over half of the world’s shark species can be found in Australian waters.

    In this part of the world, the most commonly sighted species by fishermen are the dusky whaler sharks, sandbar sharks, gummy sharks, and whiskery sharks.

    However, more infamous and dangerous species can make their way to these waters, too, including great white sharks.

    The good news is that attacks like this remain rare, although they have occurred before.

    In September, the Australia Maritime Authority rescued three people who had been stranded southeast of Cairns in the Coral Sea, after the hulls of the vessel were damaged by several shark attacks.

    Sharks do not hunt humans as prey, so attacks usually occur only if they feel provoked threatened in some way. Sharks may also approach boats after mistaking its noises and movements to a prey item.

    Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about sharks? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.